Seen all the good things and bad
Running down the hill
All so battered and brought to the ground
I am hungry again
I am drunk again
With all the money I owe to my friends
And when I’m like this
How can you be smiling, singing?
How can you be sure?
How can you be sure?
If you walk out the door
Will I see you again?
If so much of me lies in your eyes
I am hungry again
I am drunk again
With all the money I owe to my friends
When I’m like this
How can you be smiling, singing?
How can you be sure I don’t want you?
How can you be sure I don’t want you?
How can you be sure I don’t want you?
How can you be sure I don’t want you?
I don’t want you, I don’t want you anymore
I don’t want you, I don’t want you anymore
SONG INFORMATION
Released: 1990 & May 1995
Found on: 1990 Summer Demo, Fake Plastic Trees CD1 & Nowhere movie soundtrack
“How Can You Be Sure?” was first included on the 1990 demo the band put out before they were officially called Radiohead.
When this track was first heard on radio, in 1993, Thom noted that the title was only tentatively “How Can You Be Sure?” and that he hoped to change it. This never happened, though on the first Japanese issue of The Bends, which includes two bonus tracks, the song was called “When I’m Like This.”
The background singer heard is Dianne Swann, of the band The Julie Dolphine. Originally, it was thought that it was Ed’s voice doing the background vocals, re-sampled, and that “Dianne Swan” was actually a joke, meaning “Dying Swan.”